Category: Alternative Investments

There has been a steady growth of interest when it comes to cryptocurrency. As it becomes more integrated into different levels of our lives, it’s no surprise that increased awareness is driving the growing financial revolution. While there are both positives and negatives to the digital currency, the truth is that there are enough big businesses and corporations looking at ways to integrate the technology and make the most of its advantages, so the notion of digital currency is not going away anytime soon. With fluctuations in value creating an ever-changing market for bitcoins and other, less popular, examples of cryptocurrency, you may be looking at the best ways that you can take advantage of the growing market and influence of this digital powerhouse. If you’ve been looking for good investment opportunities and therefore considering investing in a cryptocurrency, or if you are simply curious how you can use it to manage your finances more securely, then you need to be aware not only of the potential benefits, but also of the negatives as well. This will give you the options with a clear view of what to expect, and will improve your chances of having a positive interaction with cryptocurrency yourself.

Con – It can be difficult to comprehend

Perhaps the most challenging obstacle in terms of large-scale adoption of the various cryptocurrency options, is that it can be a difficult subject to comprehend. The very idea of a decentralized financial system that is stored via blockchain can be challenging, especially if you’re not tech-savvy. Due to the fact that it seems occasionally incomprehensible, people are proving to be very wary taking advantage of the benefits that it can offer, and that appears to be the last hurdle that digital currency advocates will need to tackle if they want to see wider use.

Con – Challenges of market fluctuations

There are a variety ways that you can use cryptocurrencies, but the majority of people using them at the moment are simply using them as an investment. While the more eager users are using their digital currency to buy tickets to sporting events, gamble online, oreven buy a house with bitcoin, most are simply waiting for the dramatic market fluctuations to work in their favor. Treating your bitcoins as you would any other commodity may be the way to initiate a more widespread understanding and trust in the new currencies.

Con – No security in case of loss

As with every emerging technology, there are those that use naivety and inexperience to scam, cheat and steal your hard-earned money. This has certainly proven to be the case with digital currencies, so it’s important to be aware of the safety risks. Treating your bitcoins as real money will get you in the right frame of mind, as you simply have to follow standard security protocol as you would with hard currency. For those using cryptocurrency to buy, sell or gamble online, simply be as careful as you would with any investment. For online casinos, look out for the old tricks updated to the digital age, and don’t trust companies that offer unrealistic bonuses, odds, and offers. With a little basic security, you can minimize your chances of making a loss that can never be returned.

Pro – Unparalleled Transparency

This is one of the major reasons why digital currency offers much more potential for societal change and accountability. While the use of cryptocurrency is anonymous, the transactions themselves are all stored on an open ledger (the blockchain). This means that the data is available to view by anyone at any time, and that’s a major boon for those wishing for a more transparent banking system. It is because of this transparency that bitcoin is considered one of the hottest topics in world currency.

Pro – Instant and 24-hour accessibility

It is possible to spend or buy wherever you are, and you don’t even need a computer to use it. Everything can be managed on your mobile device, meaning that even for those with little in the way of technology, they are still able to access their finances and make decisions in real time. This accessibility is a key feature for the adoption of bitcoin, and isbeing used across the world to provide opportunities for those who would previously have struggled to become online consumers.

Pro (and con) – Absolute anonymity

Having an unregulated currency that is not bound by customs adjustments and fluctuating political changes is a positive and a negative. Cryptocurrency is completely anonymous, which is great for those that value their online privacy and are wary of handing over too much of their digital data. While the additional layer of security that anonymity provides is an excellent benefit, it has also led to the inevitable adoption of the technology by the criminal fraternity. The black market and the dark web are big users of cryptocurrency, and criminals obviously value their anonymity as much as they value the ability to send vast sums of money anywhere in the world with a few taps of their phone. For more law-abiding citizens, the benefits of anonymity are many, but perhaps the most enticing is the fact that there is no chance of identity theft, and that’s of major interest to anyone looking for more secure ways to remain online safely.

Every budding technology will have a degree of uncertainty about the future, and cryptocurrency is no different. While the popularity is growing, and businesses race to keep up with growing demand for its use, it may be too early to know just how big of an impact cryptocurrency will have. As a potential financial revolution, it’s worth keeping an eye on, and maybe investing in now before interest spreads worldwide.

A series of good investments can fund your ideal lifestyle, allowing you to retire sooner than expected or walk away from a job you dislike. Alternatively, bad investments can deplete your savings and damage your prospects for the future.

Knowing the difference between the two and finding the right opportunities at the right time is never straightforward, but knowing what to look out for when it comes to a potential investment – as well as what to avoid – can go a long way towards making sure your money always works in your favor.

Long-term viability

If you are risk-averse, you should confine your investments to those stocks and shares that you will be happy to own for at least ten years. While fields such as cryptocurrency may provide the opportunity to make large sums of money in a short amount of time, the best investments are those which provide solid returns and allow you to reinvest your dividends, either into the same company or into a more diverse portfolio.

Therefore, if the business or area you are thinking of investing in seems like a flash in the pan affair or temporary fad, you should proceed with extreme caution. That said, it’s important to factor in a plan to deal with any regrets you might have about an investment well in advance. This can include the regret that comes with making a loss but also the regret that comes with seeing an investment grow in value after you made the decision not to get involved. Dealing with the emotional ups and downs of investing at an early stage can make it easier for you to stay on track.

Alternative markets

Old standards such as property are likely to remain a good investment, especially if you are in for the long haul, but there are also a number of new ventures that offer a good return and a low level of risk, such as thegrowing field of peer to peer lending– a system in which investors provide the capital that is loaned out to businesses looking for cash injections.

One of the key advantages of peer to peer lending is that you can be actively involved in deciding exactly who you want to lend to. You can also share the risk with others by investing less than the full amount. Firms such as Folk2Folk.com only lend to those who can provide an adequate level of security, further reducing any risk to their investors.

Simple business models

While investing in the latest innovations and trends may provide great opportunities for some, if you invest in an area of business in which you have little understanding, it will be far more difficult for you to judge the market conditions and know when it’s a good time to cash in your shares or purchase more.

If you find a business that has a very simple business model that you fully understand, such a business is likely to operate in a more stable manner and have a solid growth curve at its core. Although the returns may not be as spectacular, investing in such a field will also provide you with far greater peace of mind, in addition to an additional income stream.

When you start to collect one kind of item, it gets exciting once they all start to come together and there are more than just a few of them. At this point, you may be called an aficionado or connoisseur by others, as your collection starts to swell. The trouble is, should you ever get to the point where you feel like it could be time to cash in and sell your coin collection, how can you know when it is the best time to sell, and how to get the best value?

Collecting coins that are not really for spending carries a similar feel to how foreign currency works, especially when you go on holiday. One day these coins can be worth one amount, and the next day, for whatever reason, they could suddenly be worth a lot less. It can be difficult but not impossible to predict how the markets are likely to fluctuate, and indeed some people have forged successful careers in finance from this talent.

It is easy for specialist collectors to know exactly what a coin is and what it is worth, in the same manner as a jeweler inspecting a gold ring for sell-able value. But how exactly do you know if you have a rare coin just lying about in your pocket, waiting for you to accidentally spend it and offer someone else that chance of collecting it instead?

If you can hold on to a special coin for eons, chances are it would be like winning the lottery or something equally jackpot-worthy. Every now and then, a story appears in the news after some archaeologist or fortunate renovator discovers ancient coins that are definitely not in circulation anywhere else. The hype and value that accompanies this type of find is often fantastic.

The London Mint Office

While these finds are generally fairly uncommon, there are plenty of rare coins you can find. Every so often, the London Mint Office releases commemorative coins to celebrate upcoming events that mark a passage of history. Although many may choose to purchase these when they first come out, after a while the number in circulation will decrease and the value of your coin will begin to rise.

It could well be the case that you’ve picked up one of these without knowing, so before you go rummage through your change jar, the Post Office have released a handy guide, which explains what coins are what, and how many are currently in circulation. At least you know what to look for now.

Once you get started, and realize just how many valuable coins there could be around the world, there is a lot of potential for exciting discoveries along the way. Before you go out and buy a metal detector, and head down to the beach hoping to score some ancient Roman, Bronze Age era coins, you might find that there are many easier ways to start your own coin collection, or cash in on one you didn’t even realize you had.

Starting a fintech company has the potential to become a lucrative venture. However, for every successful fintech company, there are many other similar businesses that fail. To avoid this situation, you should follow the tips below so that the fintech business you establish has a much better chance of succeeding.

Education and Training

Before you start a fintech business, you need to understand how business and finance work. In order to build this foundation, you should complete a relevant finance-related course, such as the online master of financial economics degree program offered by universities like Ohio University. An online MFE degree or similar course will equip you with the financial and business skills and knowledge required to become a leader in your chosen fintech area.

Focus on Your Goal

Today, there are many different types of Fintech businesses you could start including companies that deal with financial billing, payments, financial advice, business tools and integration with other financial systems. Unfortunately, many entrepreneurs jump from one business idea to another and eventually end up going around in circles and never achieve anything in their business careers.

To avoid this situation, you need to stay completely focused on the idea you intend to turn into a fintech business. The more you focus on your business idea in this way, the more you will understand the area you intend to work in and the more likely it is that you will eventually develop a much stronger, more effective company.

Attracting Investment

When you start a fintech business, it’s going to cost a lot of time and money to get it up and running. Most fintech startup owners have all the time in the world, but normally they don’t have the capital required to get their new business idea off the ground.

If you don’t have access to enough startup capital, it’s essential to try and attract investors who do have money. This exercise needs to be done in a professional and business-like fashion, which means you need to produce a comprehensive business plan and know all of your facts and figures before approaching any investor.

In many cases, investors will be investing more in you and your personality as much as they will be investing in your business idea, so you need to be organized, confident, and professional at all times. If you can do this, you will be much more likely to obtain the funding you need for your startup.

Build a Professional Team

The people who work with you will determine how successful your new venture becomes. From the start, you need to surround yourself with people who know what they’re doing and have the skills and experience required for a top-quality job.

Teamwork should also be a priority. As the driving force behind your new Fintech company, you need to develop a positive business culture amongst your team members.

As you can see, there are many factors you need to address before you start a fintech company. However, it’s not an impossible task and following the steps above will ensure that you are more likely to succeed with your new company.